Any of the cities and towns are over-crowded today as a result of the war effort. Every available building and room is taken for use, either in the war effort or for the entertainment of the men in service. When the evangelist who does not have a tabernacle looks for a location for his effort, he is confronted with many problems. If he finds a building, it may be in a bad state of repair or in an unrepresentative part of town. In some parts of the country there is the problem of heating. Since we were confronted with these problems and others akin to them, we turned to the plan of using our own church building.
Too many efforts do not have the success they might otherwise have, owing to a lack of interest on the part of the church members. Our first step is to meet the church members in an informal meeting and outline what we have chosen to call the "mechanics" of the series. The church must be responsible for seeing that the invitations are passed out from week to week. They must be regular in attendance, as their number, together with the non-Adventists, adds to the general interest of all. There will be some non-Adventists who wish to come but cannot be regular because of transportation problems. The members must make themselves responsible for providing the needed transportation and for many such duties that arise. They are to consider themselves as much a part of the organization as the evangelist and the Bible instructor.
We have found it generally true that when the members are taken into the confidence of the evangelist and told the various little details of the series, they are very co-operative. Many members have never thought of the many details that must be a part of a successful effort. After learning more about them, they see themselves as a necessary part of the "machine," instead of just being wanted because of the offering they bring.
If the church members seriously want the effort, we lay plans for making the church attractive. In every evangelistic budget there are the items of decoration and rent. For much less than would ordinarily be spent for rent, the church building can be redecorated—the woodwork freshened, the windows Stained, the walls repapered or otherwise decorated, and other such things can be done to improve its appearance. Much of the labor will be readily donated by the members of the church, and the actual expense is thus materially reduced. This provides a very attractive place in which to hold the effort, and when the series is concluded the new members find themselves in a clean, attractive house of worship.
Since the lectures are to be held in a church, we make a point of advertising that this is not a revival, but rather a connected- series of lectures on Bible subjects for "friends of all faiths." When there is a belfry or a convenient place outside the church, a large speaker is connected to a microphone on the pulpit. Each evening the song service is broadcast over this, and between songs we announce that "this program of religious music is coming to you from the Bible Auditorium," giving the location. The church sign is removed and we install one in its place which reads : "This is the Bible Auditorium."
We also use a stereopticon and slides. A switch on the desk permits us to turn the machine and the house lights on and off at will. It does not seem wise to leave the audience in the dark all the time, but by this means we can use the pictures to illustrate each text, the statements, and other points of the lecture. The series of lectures is called "The Pictured Bible Chautauqua." In all our advertising the public is invited to see their "Bible in beautifully colored pictures." Many who have come into the church, and for that matter, many who have not come in, have told us they were first attracted by the 'idea of seeing their Bible in pictures.
Setting the Audience at Ease
It has seemed to us that the first few nights there is a feeling of strangeness among the non-Adventists. There seems to be a different attitude from that which is sensed in an auditorium or tabernacle. Thus it has been out studied plan to try to set the audience at ease by assuring them that our only object in this type of meeting is to help all—both speaker and hearers—to enjoy a deeper Christian experience. We have beforehand chosen some of the church members to act as ushers, hosts and hostesses. They meet the people as they come in, and hand them a songbook. If there is need for it, they are then directed to a seat. At the close of every lecture I bid each one good night at the door and invite all to return. In this way the strangeness or tenseness soon leaves. Although we ask for an expression from time to time on various phases of doctrine, we do not make any altar calls until the audience has come to feel at home in the church. This is sometimes well toward the middle of the series. As in all efforts, we offer to give the material of the lecture in printed form to those requesting it. In this way we secure names for personal contact.
In our experience we have never had the large crowds that we might have had in some other place, but usually the church is well filled during the week and quite full on Sunday night. Needless to say, most of our churches do not seat as many as the public halls. There is usually a shifting and changing of the crowd for the first two weeks, but after that there are a number who are quite regular. From these we get our new folk. Since there are fewer names to call on, we spend more time with those who are coming out regularly. If it is at all possible, we sit down with them in their homes, and review briefly the subjects presented. At this time we get their real reaction. Wherever possible we kneel and have prayer before leaving the home. Some tell us that no minister has ever done this with them before.
I have used this general plan, with a few changes to meet the conditions in the church, in two conferences with success. The latest series brought an average of about fifty non-Adventists a night during the week. Out of this number we baptized nineteen adults, and brought in three on profession of faith. We are now in the midst of another effort of this kind, and already there are several looking forward to baptism.
We do not put on pressure for money during the offering. We present the offering each night as a part of the worship of God, and ask them to give as they feel that God has blessed them. Near the time of the first baptism, when it is known that the Lord has blessed the work of the members of the church and the ministry of the speaker, we call on the church members who have money. They are usually well pleased with the result of the effort, and are ready to listen to the statement of expense. If there is a deficit of a few hundred dollars and we feel that some member is able to give a large amount, we suggest as tactfully as possible the amount we should like him to give. A glance at the church treasurer's book tells us the approximate amount to suggest. In this manner the effort is made almost, if not entirely, self-supporting, including church redecoration, literature, Bible instructor, advertising, etc.
There is another blessing that we feel comes with this type of meeting. The church members are coming out to their own house of worship, and are taking an active part in its work; thus their own hearts are warmed as they hear the doctrines again. The spirit of the church is generally much better after such a series. With some alterations to suit the various types of speakers, this general program might be used in many of our churches.
